Scalebound: Hints of a Possible Revival?

Scalebound was once heralded as one of the most ambitious action projects, blending dynamic combat, music, and a unique dragon companion interaction system. As an Xbox One exclusive announced in 2014, it captured the gaming community's imagination but unfortunately never reached release, with Microsoft pulling the plug in 2017.

Recently, Clovers Inc's official X account shared a video of Hideki Kamiya and his team revisiting Scalebound's archived gameplay. Kamiya expressed nostalgia and pride in the project, despite its cancellation. He further fueled speculation by retweeting the video with a direct message to Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division: "Come on, Phil, let's do this!". This isn't the first time Kamiya has voiced interest in reviving Scalebound, having mentioned it as early as 2022.

Talk of Scalebound's potential return has been a recurring topic, with rumors peaking in early 2023 about a possible reboot. However, Microsoft has yet to make an official statement on the matter. When pressed about Scalebound in an interview with Game Watch, Phil Spencer simply smiled and said, "I have nothing to add at this time."

Even if Microsoft shows renewed interest, fans shouldn't expect a swift revival. Hideki Kamiya is currently engaged with a new Okami project at Clovers Inc. Should Xbox decide to greenlight Scalebound, Kamiya could only begin work after completing his current commitments. Despite the years that have passed, the persistent interest in Scalebound offers hope that one day, gamers might finally experience this long-awaited title.